Call to the pen
Fansided

MLB’s best since LeBron James was NOT in the NBA Finals

ByBobMueller|
CLEVELAND, OH - MAY 25: LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers reacts after a play in the fourth quarter against the Boston Celtics during Game Six of the 2018 NBA Eastern Conference Finals at Quicken Loans Arena on May 25, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH - MAY 25: LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers reacts after a play in the fourth quarter against the Boston Celtics during Game Six of the 2018 NBA Eastern Conference Finals at Quicken Loans Arena on May 25, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
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LeBron James
TORONTO, ON – MAY 22: Justin Upton #8 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim bats in the sixth inning during MLB game action against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre on May 22, 2018, in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Justin Upton

Left Field

The top three left fielders since 2010 are quite close in WAR over the last eight years. Justin Upton leads the way. He was a young 22-year-old with the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2010. He would go on to play for the Braves, Padres, and Tigers before joining the Angels last season.

Even though he’s been the most valuable left fielder in baseball since 2010, his career still feels a bit underwhelming considering the hype he had when he first came up. That’s probably not at all fair to him.

The last time LeBron James was NOT in an NBA Finals, Ryan Braun had not yet won an NL MVP Award or been suspended for PED use. He would win the 2011 NL MVP Award, then get suspended in 2013.

In what may just be coincidence, Braun was never as good after the PED suspension as he was before it. Before the suspension, he hit .312/.374/.564 in 944 games. Since the suspension, he’s hit .279/.343/.489 in 557 games. Of course, he was also in his 20s pre-suspension and his 30s post-suspension.

Brett Gardner stole 47 bases in 2010 and 49 in 2011. He hasn’t been that prolific on the bases in any season since, but he’s quietly been a solid performer for the Yankees going on six years running now. He’s always been overshadowed by more popular players in New York, but he’s been like the Energizer Bunny for the team, just continuing to go out there and doing whatever it takes to help the team win.

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